In honor of Flag Day, Turner Classic Movies is showing “Yankee Doodle Dandy” tonight at 7 p.m. If you’ve never seen James Cagney’s stunning performance in the 1942 film (he won the Oscar for Best Actor) I highly recommend it. Cagney’s dancing is amazing … and worth your time alone.

Meanwhile, here are the lyrics from “You’re A Grand Old Flag” which you’ll hear if you watch tonight.

Happy Flag Day and God Bless America!

(And excuse the Yankee references! Cohan does honor the South in the song too.)

There’s a feeling comes a-stealingAnd it sets my brain a-reelingWhen I’m list’ning to the music of a military bandAny tune like “Yankee Doodle”Simply sets me off my noodleIt’s that patriotic somethingThat no one can understand“Way down South in the land of cotton”Melody untiringAin’t that inspiring!Hurrah! Hurrah! We’ll join the jubileeAnd that’s going someFor the Yankees, by gum!Red, white and blueI am for youHonest, you’re a grand old flag

You’re a grand old flagYou’re a high-flying flagAnd forever in peace may you waveYou’re the emblem ofThe land I loveThe home of the free and the braveEv’ry heart beats trueUnder red, white and blueWhere there’s never a boast or bragBut should old acquaintance be forgotKeep your eye on the grand old flag

I’m a cranky hanky pankyI’m a dead square honest YankeeAnd I’m mighty proud of that old flagThat flies for Uncle SamThough I don’t believe in ravingEv’ry time I see it wavingThere’s a chill runs up my backThat makes me glad I’m what I amHere’s a land with a million soldiersThat’s if we should need ’emWe’ll fight for freedom!Hurrah! Hurrah! For ev’ry Yankee tarAnd old G.A.R.Ev’ry stripe, ev’ry starRed, white and blueHats off to youHonest, you’re a grand old flag

You’re a grand old flagYou’re a high-flying flagAnd forever in peace may you waveYou’re the emblem ofThe land I loveThe home of the free and the braveEv’ry heart beats trueUnder red, white and blueWhere there’s never a boast or bragBut should old acquaintance be forgotKeep your eye on the grand old flag

Songwriters: Paul J. Frederick / Valerie Peterson / George M Cohan

Terry Greenberg

Terry Greenberg is editor and business manager of Lubbock Lights. He worked in the newspaper industry for almost 40 years, 33 of those as editor of eight newspapers in five states. He was editor of the Avalanche-Journal from 2006-2015. He now runs his own media company, Greenberg Media Management. He is a native of Los Angeles and loves living in Lubbock, Texas.